TALBOT COUNTY GA Church History - Ephesus Progressive Primitive Baptist File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Ruth Jaaeger One of the several things Libba Woodall did to help me in my research was, in 1992, to send me a copy of a page from The Banner Herald Birdwood College Edition of HISTORY IN WORD AND PICTURE OF THE PROGRESSIVE PRIMITIVE BAPTISTS, Issued May 1955, Birdwood College, Inc., Thomasville, GA. Since this contains many names, I wish to share it with Talbot County researchers in memory of Libba Woodall. _____________________ Ephesus Church Talbot Co. Georgia Georgia, Talbot County Whereas, a presbytery convened agreeable to a previous request of brethren and sisters of the Primitive Baptist Faith near Pleasant Hill in said county to constitute them into a church to wit: James L. BURKES, Wright SHERARD, Riley MOODY, John R. BURKES, William BUSHOP, Gideon NELSON, Dickson CURETON, Jorden GLASSUP*, William MITCHELL, Thomas HARRIS, Haywood SHERARD, Joseph L. DAVIS, Sylvanus MOODY, John WALTHROP, Nancy LAWSON, Elizabeth FINDLEY, Olive GRANT, Serena SHERARD, Lydia I. HARRIS, Elizabeth LLOYD, Julyan CLOPRUP*, Nicy BURKES, Malinda FINDLEY, Rebecca WHITE, Sarah GRIGGERS, Nancy HOBBS, Lurena CUREON, Mary FINDLEY, Sarah DAVIS, Margaret MOODY, Dorcas a servant, property of James L. BURKES, Robert TOLER, Creed CALDWELL and John W. TURNER, ordained preachers, clothed with church authority and after a thorough examination of the faith and practice of said brethren, sisters, we, the said presbytery finding said brethren and sisters to be in our opinion orthodox, do pronounce them to be a Primitive Baptist Church by the name of Ephesus to be located about one-half mile north of said Pleasant Hill in said county upon the articles of faith, June 27, 1839. James L. BURKES, Clerk. The following pastors have served this church: 1839 - I. TURNER; 1839 - visitors KEITH, James ROCKMORE, and NICHOLS. 1839-1841 Elder John KEITH - membership 52. 1841-49 John W. TURNER; 1849-1850 C.A. PARKER; 1851-1852 Joseph GODDARD; 1852-1853 Jesse FALLIN; 1854-1864 Jesse H. WILLIAMS; 1865 William H. MORGAN; 1866-1869 Samuel BENTLEY. Ephesus Church called for the ordination of David CALDWELL February, 1869. 1869-1879 David CALDWELL; 1880-1881 J.H. SMITH; 1881-1882 John ROWE; 1882-1886 Samuel BENTLEY; 1886-1905 S.T. BENTLEY; 1905-1909 D.F. WOODALL; 1909-1922 R.H. BARWICK; 1922-1932 V.F. AGAN; 1932-1937 W.H. WATERS;; 1937-1943 D.O. LEWIS; 1943 to present A.W. CORLEY, and he continues to serve the church. In October 1895, a committee composed of B.C. SMITH, J.M. BEVERLY and J.C. PYE, was appointed to have the church building repaired. In December the committee decided to move the building upon a hill a few hundred feet from the old site. The building was completed, except seats and pulpit, and paid for by November 1896. In 1910, the members of Ephesus Church decided to erect a new building at Woodland, Georgia. Contributions were solicited and the present building was soon completed. Services were held at both places for a while, but in a year or two the old building at Pleasant Hill was torn down. Elder R.H. BARWICK preached the first sermon in the new house of worship. This church is a member of the Fellowship Association. The following members of Ephesus Church have served as deacons: August 24, 1839, the church unanimously agreed to recognize Brethren Wright SHERARD and James L. BURKES her deacons and James L. BURKES, clerk. The Brother clerk presented a decorum which was read and received by the church. May 23, 1841 Brother Levi WHELESS, a deacon, was received by letter in conference. October 23, 1841, Brother Hardy WHELESS, an ordained deacon, was received by letter and recognized by the church as such. June 19, 1852, Brother W.O. SHERLING was ordained as deacon with Elders Creed CALDWELL and Jesse FALLEN as presbytery. March 18, 1858, Brother John PYE was ordained deacon. Elders Jesse FALLEN, W.H. MORGAN, Jesse H. WILLIAMS as the officiating presbytery. August 10, 1870, Brother H.M. SNEED was ordained to the office of deacon. Elders Nathan BUSSEY, David CALDWELL and J.T. RESPESS composed the presbytery. December 12, 1898, Brethren B.C. SMITH, J.T. RUSSELL and J.C. PYE were ordained deacons. Elders W.C. CLEVELAND and S.T. BENTLEY formed Presbytery and Brother Levi WHELESS was appointed Spokesman for the church. Ordination prayer by W.C. CLEVELAND and charge by S.T. BENTLEY. June 14, 1925, Brethren J.W. PYE and J.F. WOODALL were ordained deacons. Presbytery Elders R.H. BARWICK and V.F. AGAN. June 17, 1938, Brother W. Early SMITH was ordained deacon. Elder S.H. WHATLEY assisted Elder D.O. LEWIS in ordination service. The following have served as clerk of the church: James L. BURKES 1839-1844; John E. LLOYD 1844-1850; William MITCHELL 1850-1852; Jesse WILSON 1852-1857; John PYE 1857-1883; J.M. CALDWELL 1883-1893; J.C. PYE 1893-1901; G.B. CALDWELL 1901-1915; J.F. WOODALL 1916-1920; J.C. PYE 1920-1925; Mattie WOODALL 1925 to present. In the old church book 1839-1910, the clerks gave full accounts in the minutes of the proceedings of conferences and faithfully recorded obituaries of deceased members. The deacons cited the members to attendance and right living. They visited the sick and helped those in need and distress. January 24, 1846, Church agreed to pay Sister CURETON the sum of $6.00 for cleaning and keeping the house in order for the year 1846. July 19, 1856, Brother Levi WHELESS and Brother W.O. STERLING were appointed to assist the clerk in reviewing and correcting the church book. October 6, 1887, church went into choice of a pastor for ensuing year and Brother S.T. BENTLEY was unanimously chosen. Brethren J. PYE, W.P. RUSSELL, and B.C. SMITH volunteered to bear a letter to Mount Carmel, Crawford County requesting Brother BENTLEY's services for same. Ephesus Church contributed $135.00 in March 1923 toward the founding of Bethany Home at Vidalia and __________(can't read last line). * Libba Woodall made a note that she believed Jurden Glassup and Julyan Cloprup were both GLOSSUPS (spelled with one "s" in 1850 census and in same household as Elizabeth Findley, 77 years old.) Julia Ann FINDLEY married Jordan Glossup in Merriwether Co - Dec 1833. ___________________________________________________ Ruth Jaeger Researching FINDLEY/FINLEY and REDDING/REDING names in Talbot County GA ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.